uplift4.brightnessreef-第20节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　〃Keep　it；〃　Dwer　said；　and　she　responded　with　a　hesitant　smile。
　　With　that　he　ceased　being　her　jailor　and　became　her　guide；　escorting　a　prodigal　daughter　back　to　the　embrace　of　clan　and　mons。　Or　so　he　thought；　until　some　time　later；　during　the　meal；　when　she　said…〃I　really　ha'　seen　some　of　those　before。〃
　　〃Seen　some　of　what？〃
　　Rety　pointed　at　the　glaver；　placidly　chewing　under　the　shade　of　a　stand　of　swaying　lesser…boo。
　　〃You　thought　I　never　saw　any；　'cause　I　feared　she'd　bite。　But　I　seen　'em；　from　afar。　A　whole　herd。　Sneaky　devils；　hard　to　catch。　Took　the　guys　all　day　to　spear　'un。　They　taste　awful　gamey；　but　the　boys　liked　it　fine。〃
　　Dwer　swallowed　hard。　〃Are　you　saying　your　tribe　hunts　and　eats　glavers？〃
　　Rety　looked　back　with　brown　eyes　full　of　innocent　curiosity。　〃You　don't　on　this　side？　I'm　not　surprised。　There's　easier　prey；　an'　better　eatin'。〃
　　He　shook　his　head；　nauseated　by　the　news。
　　Part　of　him　chided…You　were　willing　to　shoot　this　particular　glaver　down；　stone　dead；　if　it　crossed　over　the　pass。
　　Yes；　but　only　as　a　last　resort。　And　I　wouldn't　eat　her！
　　Dwer　knew　what　people　called　him…the　Wild　Man　of　the　Forest；　living　beyond　the　law。　He　even　helped　nurse　the　mystique；　since　it　meant　his　awkward　speech　was　taken　for　something　more　manly　than　shyness。　In　truth；　killing　was　the　part　of　any　hunt　he　did　as　capably　and　swiftly　as　possible；　never　with　enjoyment。　Now；　to　learn　people　beyond　the　mountains　were　devouring　glavers！　The　sages　would　be　appalled！
　　Ever　since　surmising　that　Rety　came　from　a　sooner　band；　Dwer　had　known　his　duty　would　be　to　guide　a　militia　expedition　to　round　up　the　errant　clan。　Ideally；　it　would　be　a　simple　matter　of　firm　but　gentle　ingathering；　resettling　lost　cousins　back　into　the　fold　of　the　mons。　But　now；　Rety　had　unknowingly　indicted　her　tribe　with　another　crime。　The　Scrolls　were　clear。　That　which　is　rare；　you　shall　not　eat。　That　which　is　precious；　you　must　protect。　But；　above　all…You　may　not　devour　what　once　flew　between　the　stars。
　　Irony　was　ashen　in　Dwer's　mouth。　For　after　the　sooners　were　brought　back　for　trial；　his　job　then　would　be　to　collect　every　glaver　living　east　of　the　Rimmers…and　slaughter　those　he　could　not　catch。
　　Ah；　but　that　won't　make　me　a　bad　person　because　I　won't　eat　them。
　　Rety　must　have　sensed　his　reaction。　She　turned　to　stare　at　the　nearby　stand　of　great…boo；　its　young　shoots　barely　as　thick　as　her　waist。　The　tubelike　green　shafts　swayed　in　rippling　waves；　like　fur　on　the　belly　of　the　lazy　noor；　dozing　by　her　foot。
　　〃Are　they　gonna　hang　me？〃　the　girl　asked　quietly。　The　scar　on　her　face；　which　was　muted　when　she　smiled；　now　seemed　stretched　and　livid。　〃Old　Clin　says　you　slopies　hang　sooners　when　you　catch　〃em。〃
　　〃Nonsense。　Actually；　each　race　handles　its　own…〃
　　〃The　old　folks　say　it's　slopie　law。　Kill　anyone　who　tries　to　make　a　free　life　east　o'　the　Rimmers。〃
　　Dwer　stammered；　suddenly　awash　in　irritation；　〃If…　if　you　think　that；　why'd　you　e　all　this　way？　To…　to　stick　your　head　in　a　noose？〃
　　Rety's　lips　pressed。　She　looked　away　and　murmured　low。　〃You　wouldn't　believe　me。〃
　　Dwer　repented　his　own　flash　of　temper。　In　a　gentler　tone；　he　asked…〃Why　don't　you　try　me？　Maybe。。。　I　might　understand　better　than　you　think。〃
　　But　she　withdrew　once　more　into　a　cocoon　of　brooding　silence；　unresponsive　as　a　stone。
　　While　Dwer　hastily　rinsed　the　cooking　gear；　Rety　tied　herself　in　place　ahead　of　the　glaver；　even　though　he　had　said　she　could　walk　free。　He　found　his　cooking　knife　by　the　smothered　coals；　where　she　must　have　laid　it　after　those　sharp　words。
　　The　gesture　of　rejection　irked　him；　and　he　muttered　gruffly；　〃Let's　get　out　of　here。〃
　　
　　Asx
　　WE　HAD　CHOSEN　TO　FEIGN　A　SMALL　DISTINCTION　between　two　crimes。　At　best　a　slightly　lesser　felony…that　of　accidental　rather　than　planned　colonization。
　　No　one　could　deny　the　obvious…that　our　ancestors　had　loosed　unsanctioned　offspring　on　a　fallow　world。　But　Vubben's　artful　evasion　implied　an　act　of　culpable　carelessness；　rather　than　villainy　by　design。
　　The　lie　would　not　hold　for　long。　When　archaeological　traces　were　sifted；　forensic　detectives　from　the　Institutes　would　swiftly　perceive　our　descent　from　many　separate　landings；　not　one　mixed　crew　stranded　by　mishap　on　this　remote　shore。　Moreover；　there　was　the　presence　of　our　juniormost　sept…the　human　clan。　By　their　own　bizarre　tale；　they　are　a　wolfling…race；　unknown　to　Galactic　culture　until　just　three　hundred　Jijoan　years　ago。
　　Then　why　even　try　such　a　bluff？
　　Desperation。　Plus　a　frail　hope　that　our　〃guests〃　have　not　the　skill　or　tools　for　archaeology。　Their　goal　must　be　to　swoop　in　for　a　quick　sampling　of　hidden　treasures。　Then；　covering　their　tracks；　they　would　wish　a　swift；　stealthy　departure　with　a　ship's　hold　full　of　contraband。　To　this　mercenary　quest；　our　strange；　forlorn　colony　of　miscreants　offers　both　opportunity　and　a　threat。
　　They　must　know　we　possess　firsthand　knowledge　of　Jijo；　valuable　to　their　needs。
　　Alas；　my　rings。　Are　we　not　also　potential　witnesses　to　their　villainy？
　　
　　Sara
　　NOBODY　EXPECTED　AN　AMBUSH。　It　was　the　perfect　place　for　one。　Still；　no　one　aboard　the　Haupb…woa　had　any　idea　of　danger　until　it　actually　happened。
　　A　century　of　peace　had　blurred　the　once…jealously　guarded　domains　of　old。　Urrish　and　g'Kek　settlers　were　few；　since　the　former　could　not　raise　young　near　water；　and　the　latter　preferred　smooth　terrain。　Still；　all　types　were　seen　crowding　tiny　docks　when　the　Hauph…woa　glided　by；　eager　to　share　scant　news。
　　Alas；　there　had　been　none　from　downstream　since　that　terrible　spectacle　crossed　the　sky。
　　Mostly；　the　river　folk　were　reacting　constructively；　rushing　to　reinforce　their　facade　screens；　cleaning　the　baffles　of　their　smokestacks；　or　hauling　boats　under　cover…but　one　forlorn　tribe　of　traeki　marsh…dwellers　had　gone　much　further；　burning　their　entire　stilt　village　in　a　spasm　of　fear　and　fealty　to　the　Scrolls。　Pzora's　topknot　shivered　at　the　aroma　of　woebegone　ring…stacks；　floundering　in　the　ashes。　The　Hauph…woa's　captain　promised　to　spread　word　of　their　plight。　Perhaps　other　traeki　would　send　new　basal　segments　for　the　locals　to　wear；　making　them　better　suited　for　evacuation　inland。　At　worst；　the　swamp　traeki　could　gather　rotting　matter；　settle　on　top；　and　shut　down　higher　functions　till　the　world　became　a　less　scary　place。
　　The　same　could　not　be　said　for　an　urrish　trade　caravan　they　passed　later；　stranded　with　their　pack　beasts　on　the　desolate　west　bank；　when　the　panicky　citizens　of　Bing　Village　blew　up　their　beloved　bridge。
　　The　hoonish　boat　crew　back…pedaled　with　frantic　haste；　rowing　against　the　current　to　avoid　getting　caught　in　a　tangle　of　broken　timbers　and　mule…fiber　cables；　shattered　remnants　of　a　beautiful　span　that　had　been　the　chief　traverse　for　an　entire　region。　A　marvel　of　clever　camouflage；　the　bridge　used　to　resemble　a　jagged　snag　of　jumbled　logs。　But　even　that　apparently　wasn't　enough　for　local　orthodox　scroll　thumpers。　Maybe　they　were　burning　it　while　I　had　my　nightmare　last　night；　Sara　thought；　observing　charred　timbers　and　recalling　images　of　flame　that　had　torn　her　sleep。
　　A　crowd；of　villagers　stood　on　the　east　bank；　beckoning　the　Hauph…woa　to　draw　near。
　　Blade　spoke　up。　〃I　would　not　approach；〃　the　blue　qheuen　hissed　from　several　leg…vents。　He　wore　a　rewq　over　his　vision…ring　while　peering　at　the　folk　on　shore。
　　〃And　why　not？〃　Jop　demanded。　〃See？　They're　pointing　to　a　way　past　the　debris。　Perhaps　they　have　news；　as　well。〃
　　Sure　enough；　there　did　appear　to　be　a　channel；　near　the　shore；　unobstructed　by　remnants　of　the　broken　bridge。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Blade　went　on。　〃I　sense　that。。。　something　is　wrong。〃
　　〃You're　right　avout　that；〃　Ulgor　added。　〃I'd　like　to　know　why　they　have　done　nothing　for　the　stranded　caravan。　The　villagers　have　voats。　The　urs　could　have　veen　ferried　across　vy　now。〃
　　Sara　wondered。　It　certainly　would　not　be　fun　for　any　of　Ulgor's　race　to　ride　a　little　coracle；　with　icy　water　lapping　just　an　arm's　breadth　away。　〃The　urs　may　have　refused；〃　she　suggested。　〃Perhaps　they're　not　that　desperate　yet。〃
　　The　captain　made　his　decision；　and　the　Hauph…woa　turned　toward　the　village。　As　they　drew　near；　Sara　saw　that　the　only　construct　still　intact　was　the　hamlet's　camouflage　lattice。　Everything　else　lay　in　ruins。　They've　probably　sent　their　families　into　the　forest；　she　thought。　There　were　plenty　of　garu　trees　for　humans　to　live　in；　and　qheuenish　citizens　could　join　cousins　upstream。　Still；　the　toppled　village　was　a　depressing　sight。
　　Sara　pondered　how　much　worse　things　might　be　if　Jop　ever　got　his　wish。　If　Dolo　Dam　blew　up；　every　dock；　weir；　and　cabin　they　had　seen　below　the　flood　line　would　be　swept　away。　Native　creatures　would　also　suffer；　though　perhaps　no　more　than　in　a　natural　flood。　Lark　says　it　is　species　that　matter；　not　individuals。　No　eco…niches　would　be　threatened　by　demolishing　our　small　wooden　structures。　Jijo　won't　be　harmed。
　　Still；　it　seems　dubious；　all　of　this　burning　and　wrecking　just　to　persuade　some　Galactic　big　shots　we're　farther　along　the　Path　of　Redemption　than　we　really　are。
　　Blade　sidled　alongside；　his　blue　carapace　steaming